Reborn in the Chinese Entertainment Industry: You're a Director, But You're a Casanova?

Director Zhao's face was deathly pale, and his legs were trembling like a sieve.

If Liu Yuehua had only complained that he was bullying the actors, a big shot like Han Shanping wouldn't have bothered with such a trivial matter.

However, Liu Yuehua ruthlessly escalated the matter to the level of the TW Special Prevention and Control Fund, framing leaders and maliciously causing major accidents, which gave Han Shanping a perfect excuse to clean house that was impossible for General Manager Ma to refute.

Han Shanping was an extremely shrewd man, and he instantly understood the powerful message Liu Yuehua had given him.

"Xiao Ma not only has a long reach, but his heart is also dirty. He jokes about the lives of hundreds of people in the crew."

"Yuehua, you wait here, I'll take care of this."

The call ended in less than three minutes.

Zhang Da Huzi, covered in sweat, ran all the way to Director Zhao.

Without saying a word, he ripped off his work ID.

"Hey Zhao, you're fired. Get out of here right now!"

"China Film Group just called. Your name is on their blacklist. You can forget about working in any mainland film crews from now on."

After dealing with the small fry, Zhang Da Huzi immediately put on a fawning smile, took out a car key, and handed it to Liu Xiaoli.

"Ms. Liu, I'm really sorry. This is the best RV in the crew. It will be used exclusively for Yifei's rest from now on, and all her schedules will be changed to daytime."

Liu Xiaoli looked at the car keys in her hand, then at Liu Yuehua, who stood calmly beside her.

This young woman only needs one phone call to mobilize the highest authority in the industry and crush the mountain that was making things difficult for her.

The last bit of wariness she had of her elders completely crumbled. Fine, fine, at worst we'll both fall into your hands.

After resting for a while, Liu Yifei wiped the sweat from her brow, rushed over and hugged Liu Yuehua's arm, smiling sweetly.

"Brother Yuehua, you're finally here." Liu Yuehua ruffled her hair. "What's wrong? Are you no longer going to be the runaway shrew from Disneyland?"

"I won't be your princess anymore. From now on, I'll be your one and only little princess."

"Sweetie, after you finish filming 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils,' I'll take you to Disneyland."

"Okay, brother~"

……

Three days later, in a small conference room on the top floor of the China Film Group building in Beijing.

Following the tradition of holding small meetings for major issues and large meetings for minor issues, this small room determines the flow of billions of yuan in China's film industry.

At this moment, the two sides of the conference table were clearly divided, and the atmosphere was oppressive.

On the left is General Manager Ma, who was parachuted in to oversee the distribution department, and next to him sits Lu Chuan, who is sitting upright and has chosen sides in the speculation.

On the right is Tian Zhuangzhuang, who is protective of his own, and next to him is Liu Yuehua, the source of all the conflicts at today's meeting.

Liu Yuehua was holding a notebook in his hand, his head down, writing and drawing like a young accountant. Han Shanping, the real head of China Film Group, was leaning back in his leather chair in the main seat, and he did not speak.

Han Shanping put down his teacup, setting the tone for the opening.

"Everyone has seen the financial reports for the first half of the year. Due to the flu over the past three months, coupled with the impact of Hollywood blockbusters, the overall box office for films this year has lost a full 6 million yuan compared to the same period last year."

"As the person in charge, I have to apologize to the higher-ups for this."

"Mr. Han, how can this be your fault?" Mr. Ma spoke first. "The cinemas are closed, film crews have stopped working, and the overall economic environment is too bad. These are external factors."

"However, it is precisely at this time that China Film Group must remain steadfast, play a leading role, and demonstrate the spirit and vitality of Chinese cinema."

Mr. Ma revealed his true intentions and pushed a business plan to the center of the table.

"I propose that the group allocate 3000 million yuan to director Lu Chuan to make an epic production, aiming to directly compete in the three major European film festivals at the end of the year, and use the brilliance of art to sweep away the slump of the past six months."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuehua, who had been silent all along, stopped writing, looked up, and gave a cold laugh.

"Mr. Ma, the distribution department belongs to China Film Group, not just your personal distribution department."

"The cinema chain belongs to all the people of the country, not just to you." Although Liu Yuehua's tone was flippant, every word he uttered was venomous.

"If the distribution department decides which films can be released and which can't, and it's all up to your word, then you might as well just foot the bill for all the box office revenue nationwide. Then those of us who work hard on the front lines making films wouldn't need to come to this meeting anymore, right?"

"Outrageous!" Lu Chuan slammed her hand on the table and stood up, glaring angrily at Liu Yuehua.

"This is a high-level meeting of China Film Group. You're just a young director who relies on hype and speculation, a freshman in college. What right do you have to speak to Mr. Ma in this tone?"

"Do you still have any sense of hierarchy? Do you still disregard the rules of cinematic art?"

"It'll just be expulsion and a complete internet ban, right?" Liu Yuehua met Lu Chuan's gaze without flinching.

"Some time ago, your distribution department abused its power and cut all screenings of my film 'Comet' in the north."

"At that time, I already had this idea. Since we can no longer make a living from mainland films, Director Lu, who do you think is suitable to do it? Let's hire whoever is suitable."

"Why is it that now that the box office has lost 6 million and can't make up for it, they're suddenly thinking about us who worked so hard to earn box office revenue in the south?"

"You!" Lu Chuan was furious.

"Yuehua." Tian Zhuangzhuang, sitting in front, slightly turned his head and interrupted Liu Yuehua in a deep voice.

This leading figure at the Beijing Film Academy needs to be in control of the overall situation, but he also needs to be able to deliver the blows more effectively.

"There's no distinction between 'you' and 'us' here, only people working in the Chinese film industry," Tian Zhuangzhuang said calmly.

"People should be allowed to speak during meetings. Yuehua, if you have any questions about the distribution department's plans, just say them. No one will criticize you. This is not a place where anyone can have their own opinion."

Han Shanping watched the two masters and apprentices work together, narrowed his eyes slightly, and picked up his teacup again.

"Alright, some of you are clouds, and some are water."

"Clear art films can gain prestige abroad, while murky commercial films can stay in China and make money."

"They are just doing different things, but they are all contributors to Chinese cinema. There are no traitors among them."

Han Shanping then changed the subject.

"We should still argue, Xiao Ma just suggested putting 3000 million into making an art film."

"Old Tian, ​​you're the pillar of our industry. What are your plans?"

Tian Zhuangzhuang spoke calmly and steadily.

"There are only two ways to manage a household: increasing revenue and reducing expenditure. Preparation is key to success, and lack of preparation leads to failure."

"The big-budget films released at the beginning of the year had a budget of 4000 million, but they didn't even recoup 1000 million of their costs."

"The market is currently down 6 million yuan, and we still need to spend another 3000 million yuan to gamble on a vague international prize."

"If we continue to live beyond our means like we did in the first half of the year, after we've spent this 3000 million, I really don't know what else Chinese films will have left to live on."

Mr. Ma's face turned ashen. Knowing he couldn't compete on performance, he immediately resorted to a fallacy of moral blackmail.

"Teacher Tian, ​​you can't say that." Mr. Ma stood up, waving his hand with an air of righteous indignation, "Thirty million won't bankrupt the Chinese film industry, will it?"

"Art is the face of China Film Group. If theaters don't have food to eat and cast and crew members don't have food to eat, these are all growing pains that must be experienced in order to preserve the foundation of Chinese cinema."

"For this 3000 million yuan art project, let's make things difficult for the theater managers. I'll take the blame."

When Liu Yuehua heard this mind-blowing statement from the corner, he almost burst out laughing.

These vested interests who spout nonsense about benevolence and morality are really treating grassroots performers like disposable materials.

"What a miserable cast and crew member! You'll have to bear the blame." Liu Yuehua slowly stood up.

"Mr. Han, I may not understand art as well as Mr. Ma, but I'm just calculating how much real money Mr. Ma actually made from what he just said?"

"Whose pockets ultimately ended up with these blood-stained costs?"